Rectifying the situation of illegal fishing

There are many violations.

In recent times, implementing the Prime Minister's directives and telegrams, the Provincial People's Committee has directed relevant agencies to deploy solutions to strengthen control of fishing activities in the area, ensuring that fishing activities comply with Vietnamese law and international regulations, contributing to the protection, conservation and sustainable development of aquatic resources.

However, this work is still facing many difficulties. Illegal exploitation of seafood still occurs, mainly by trawlers exploiting coastal aquatic products, fishing in the wrong season, wrong profession, prohibited profession (bagua, blowpipe with harrow blade, net with harrow blade...) and using explosives and electric shock.

Border Guards inspect and confiscate electric shock devices on fishing boats. Photo: Hai Thuong

Typically, at 4:00 a.m. on March 13, 2019, Nghe An Fisheries Surveillance ship was patrolling and controlling at sea when it discovered 2 fishing boats of fishermen in Quynh Luu and Dien Chau districts using electric shock to catch seafood near the shore. The 2 fishing boats discovered using electric shock were those of fishermen Nguyen Van Trieu (Tien Thuy commune, Quynh Luu district) and Vu Sy Thanh (Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau district). Through inspection, it was discovered that these boats contained 2 shock absorbers and hundreds of meters of electric wire. It is known that these shock absorbers, when attached to the net, will create an electric current that kills shrimp and fish in the near-shore waters. This is a violation of Decree 103-2013/ND-CP of the Government on fisheries activities.

Previously, at 7:00 a.m. on December 18, 2018, while patrolling and controlling the sea area of ​​Nghi Tien commune, Nghi Loc district, the patrol team of the Border Guard Station of Cua Lo - Ben Thuy Port (Nghe An Border Guard) discovered and arrested 4 vehicles that were fishing illegally in accordance with the content stated in the fishing area registration license. The vehicle owners, including Vu Van Hoi (born in 1971), Tran Van Binh (born in 1959), Hoang Van Thuan (born in 1984) and Nguyen Van Thuy (born in 1984), all from Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau district, were fined and administratively sanctioned according to the law.

In just the first 2 months of 2019, Nghe An Fisheries Sub-Department coordinated with Coastal Border Guard Stations and Fisheries Control Sub-Department Region 1 to inspect 156 vehicles. Thereby, 29 vehicles were detected and administratively fined with a total fine of 162,300,000 VND; 6 electric generators, 5 fishing nets, and 145 electric wires were confiscated.

The main violations are using electric shock to exploit aquatic resources, fishing in the wrong area, using an expired KTTS license for 60 days or more, storing and transporting electric shock tools on fishing vessels for aquatic resources, violating foreign waters, not recording or incompletely recording fishing logs.

According to the authorities, the violations are becoming more and more sophisticated; the subjects use many ways to conceal the electric shocks, use small boats to bring the electric shocks to ships parked outside the estuary...; when the fisheries control force discovers the violations, the subjects run away, cut down the nets and electric wires and throw them into the sea, so the authorities have no basis to handle them. Many cases use high-speed boats and nets to pull at night, making it very difficult to detect; when being checked, the subjects fiercely resist, refuse to stop the ships, and squeeze the fisheries control ships and boats...

The above acts are not permitted by law because they are destructive forms of exploitation, leaving great and long-term harm to the natural environment, especially near-shore areas.

Border guards check vehicles and take statements from fishing boat owners who illegally catch seafood using electric shock. Photo: Hai Thuong

Next, in Notice No. 95/TB-UBND dated February 20, 2019 on the Conclusion of Comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee at the meeting to strengthen the implementation of solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing), it also pointed out a number of limitations that need to be overcome soon: that is, the work of inspecting and controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving ports; the coordination between functional forces and local authorities at all levels has not met the requirements.

At the same time, coastal localities are required to strengthen coordination to promote the implementation of Prime Minister's Directive 45 and the Fisheries Law 2017; forces should strengthen inspection and control of ships entering and leaving ports, and strictly handle violations.

According to the provisions of Clause 4, Article 14, Decree No. 103/2013/ND-CP of the Government on administrative sanctions for violations in fisheries activities, fishing in prohibited areas or using destructive fishing gear at sea will be fined from 6 to 8 million VND.

Strengthen inspection and control

Mr. Nguyen Chi Luong - Head of Nghe An Fisheries Sub-Department said: Implementing Directive 06 and Notice No. 95 of the Provincial People's Committee, the Sub-Department has advised the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to establish 03 inter-sectoral working groups to inspect and control fisheries at Lach Van, Lach Quen and Cua Hoi fishing ports according to the instructions of the European Commission (EC), each group has about 7 people.

The purpose is to ensure the inspection, examination, and control of the origin of seafood exploitation in full and transparent manner. Accordingly, 100% of fishing vessels leaving port have their documents checked (exploitation logbooks, registration certificates, fishing vessel inspections, fishing licenses, certificates, captain and chief engineer diplomas, fishing vessel crew registers; safety equipment, navigation, fishing gear (mesh size...).

People register for departure at Lach Van Border Control Station. Photo: Khanh Ly

When fishing boats dock, interdisciplinary teams check the actual catch; compare declared information about the itinerary, sea area, and fishing grounds.

When detecting fishing vessels/ship owners violating the provisions of Vietnamese law; laws on fisheries, exploiting prohibited species, exploiting species smaller than prescribed, or aquatic species on the list of rare and endangered species... a record must be made and handed over to the competent authorities for handling according to the provisions of law.

Quynh Luu fishermen go out to sea. Photo: Document

In addition, the inter-sectoral working groups on duty 24/7 at fishing ports are also responsible for propagating and raising people's awareness of legal regulations and the Provincial People's Committee's regulations on combating illegal fishing, and guiding fishermen to complete documents and procedures according to regulations.

In addition to propaganda, training, and live Q&A video screenings, leaflets and posters with instructions for fishing boat owners on relevant regulations were also distributed. On the other hand, to support inspection and control work, two fishing control vessels were also dispatched to Lach Quen and Lach Van fishing ports where many fishing boats are concentrated.

Boats anchored at Lach Van fishing port. Photo: Khanh Ly

Currently, relevant functional sectors are actively coordinating with coastal localities to guide the installation of journey monitoring equipment to ensure automatic messaging to the Shore Station (Department of Fisheries). Specifically: 1,359 ships in the province with a length of 15m or more must be completed before July 1, 2019; 234 ships with a length of 24m or more must be completed before April 1, 2019.

"We will resolutely not allow ships to leave port without installing monitoring equipment and have not completed all paperwork and safety equipment as required by law and will not be entitled to enjoy support policies from the State."

Mr. Nguyen Chi Luong - Head of Nghe An Fisheries Sub-Department

According to the leader of the Fisheries Department, the number of fishing boats in the province is currently quite large, so the unit is proposing to install another shore station to serve the work of inspecting and controlling boats entering and leaving fishing ports.

Besides the participation of functional forces and local authorities, the most important thing is to promote propaganda work to raise awareness of strict compliance with Vietnamese laws and international regulations in seafood exploitation activities of vehicle owners.

Require owners of offshore fishing vessels to sign a commitment not to violate IUU fishing, install voyage monitoring equipment according to regulations and turn on the equipment 24/7 when fishing in the sea for management and supervision by competent authorities.

Nghe An has a coastline of 82 km, with 6 Lach estuaries (Con, Quen, Thoi, Van, Lo, Hoi). The fishing port system includes 4 ports: Lach Van, Cua Hoi, Lach Quen and Quynh Phuong fishing port which have been completely upgraded to create favorable conditions for ships to dock and take shelter from storms. The total number of ships is 3,902, with an average capacity of 162.64 CV/ship, mainly engaged in trawling, trawling, purse seining and net fishing. The annual seafood output is 130,000 tons/year.